Driving mechanism for planters



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1. A. J. HELVERN'U W. B. SICHWALM.

DRIVING MBGHANISM FOR PLANTBRS.

Patented Sept. 8,1891.-

BY .B mn/ JLM y@ Arron/vers (No Model.)

2 Shets-Sheet 2. A. J. HELVERN 8v W. B. SCHWALM.

DRIVING MBGHANISM FOR PLANTBRS.

PatentedSept. 8, 1891.

NVENTORS.

@y P@ TTUHNEYS No.A 459,289.

y UNITE-D STATES `ALBERT J. HELVERN AND VILLIAM PATENT OFFICE.

B. SCHVALM, OF VALTON, INDIANA.

DRIVING MECH'ANISM FOR PLANTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofV Letters Patent No. 459,289, datedSeptember 8, 1891. Application filed December 16, 1890. Serial No.374,865. (No model.)

l To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALBERT J. HELVERN and WILLIAM B. SCHWALM, ofWalton, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have inyented a newand Improved Driving Mechanism for Planters, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

)ur invention relates to the driving mechanism for the seed-drop bars ofplanters, and has for its object to improve the construction of suchmechanism shown and described in the application for Letters Patenttiled by us August 27, 1890, Serial No. 363,196, and patented December23, 1890, No. 443,443.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar iigures and letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

.Figure 1 is a plan view of an implement having the device appliedthereto. Fig. `2 is a front elevation of theimplement, the seed-box,

1 frame, and drop-slide being partially broken trating the manner ofpivoting the fingers therein; and Fig. 5 is a similar viewillustrating amodification in the pivoting of the lingers.

The fra'ine of the implement is illustrated as constructed in twoparallel rectangular sections A and A the section A being the rearsection and hinged to the forward section. The forward sectionhasattached thereto the usual runners 10, and at the rear of the runnersthe seed spouts or chutes 11 are located, which spouts have connectionwith seed-boxes l2, of any approved construction, the said boxes beinglocated upon theforward framesection, and one drop-slide13 has movementin both boxes, as is best shown in Fig. 2. The rear section A issupported by Wheels 14, which wheels are attached to the section in suchmanner that the said sectipn may be raised or lowered relatively to thewheels. The rear section, which is thehinge-section,

.is provided with two or more, preferably two, intermediate cross-bars15 and 16, and to the intermediate cross-bar 15 one end of adownwardly-Hextending arm 17 is pivoted, the lower end of which arm isslightly curved inward, and to the curved portion of the arm a sprocketor chain wheel 18 is pivotally attached. An upwardly-curved arm 19 issecured at its lower end to the downwardly-extending arm 17, and theupwardly-extending arm 19 at its upper end is curved horizontallyoutward and thence vertically upward in the ydirection of the rear, asis best illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon the upper face of the upper arm 19,near its upper curve, a small chain or friction pulley 2O is pivoted,which pulley is in alignment with the larger chaiii-wheel 18.

An arm 21 is secured to the rear cross-bar of the forward section A ofthe frame, and the said arm 2l is projected downward and rearwardbeneath the hinge-frame section A. To the lower extremity of the arm 21a chainwheel 22 is .fulcrumed, and the chain-wheels 22 and 18 are inhorizontal alignment. The arms 17 and 21 are adj ustably connected by arod or lilik 23.

An endless chain B is the driving mechanthe chain-wheels 18, 20, and 22.The chain consists of a series of pivotally-coniiected links of anyapproved shape, and preferably to every other link 24 of the chain oneend of a linger 25 is pivoted. The pivotal connection of the fingers iseffected ordinarily at or near the center of the links, and the saidfingers consist of a broad paddle-like lower end c, the front facewhereof is straight and the rear face beveled downwardly, whereby therear edge is l.rendered sharp, and an intermediate shank c', connectingthe broad lowerportion with an upwardly and forwardly curved head a2.The head a2 may be stirrupsliaped, as shown in Fig. 5, in which eventthe members thereof extend upward at oppowith by a pin agpassed throughthem and the link; or the head, as shown in Fig. 4, and which Ais thepreferred form, may be of the -same size in cross-section as the shank,or practically so, in which event the head is passed upward into thelink and is pivoted therein.

ism for the seed drop-slide, and it travels over site sides of a linkand are connected there- IOO In the rear face of each nger, preferablyat or near the junction of the shank with the head, a cavity 26 isproduced, and each link intermediate of Jthose to which the fingers arepivoted. is provided with a forwardly-extending stud 26, formed upon itsunder face, the said studs being adapted to enter the cavities 26 of thefingers the moment the latter enter the ground and to maintain them in avertical position while they are in action.

At predetermined intervals at one side of the endless chainfriction-rollers 27 are pivoted upon suitable pins, whichfriction-rollers regulate the dropping of the seed and may be arrangedclose together when the seed is to be so dropped or as far apart as theoperator may desire.

The endless-chain driving mechanism, in addition to passing over thechain-wheels, also passes over a friction-pulley 2S, whichfriction-pulley is j ournaled upon the forward intermediate cross-bar 16of the hinge-section of the frame. One end of a rod or bar 29 is pivotedto the upper extremity of the upwardly-eXtending arm 19, and the saidbar is eX- tended forward over the hinge-section A of the frame, itsinner end being pivotally united connecting-rod 31, the lever 30 at itsforward end being fulcrumed at or near the central portion of theforward cross-bar of the front sectionl A.

To the lever 30,11ear its fulcrum, the upper end of a marker 32 issecured, which marker consists, preferably, of a strip of spring meta-lcurved downward and rearward and terminating at its lower extremity inan essentiallyvertical foot 33, which foot is adapted to engage wit-hthe lground between the chutes or alignment with their lower ends.

Upon. the rear cross-bar of the forward section A of the frame anangle-plate or bracket 34 is bolted, and upon the vertical member of thebracket or angle-plate a spur-wheel 35 is-pivoted, provided with aseries of pins 36 in` its forward face. The spur-wheel 35 meshes with apinion 37, also pivoteduponthe bracket, which` pinion 37, through themedium of a wrist-pin and pitman 38, is connected with the drop-slide13. The spur-wheel 35 is partially. revolved at each movement of thelever 30, and this is accomplished by means of a bar 39, which bar isattached at its lower end to the lever and extends upward throughsuitable guideways formed upon the bracket. The edge of the bar 39,adjacent to the pins upon the spur-wheel 35, has produced therein anotch 4Q`to receive a pin 36 as the bar descends. A gravity-catch 36 ispivoted to the rear side of the bar 39, adjacent to the notch 40, onecornerof which is bent aroundv the bar, as shown, to limit its movement.The toe of the latch projects into the path of the pins, 36.lImmediately over the friction-roller the chain.

2S a weight t1 is adj ustably secured to the rod or bar 29, the saidweight bein-g so attached as t0 present a forwardly -inclined lower edgeto the friction-rollers.

In operation, as the implement is drawn forward the fingers of thelowerl links of the endless chain engage with the ground andare held ina vertical position by reason of the spurs of the chain entering thecavities of the fingers. Thus the forward movement of the implementcauses the entire endless chain to revolve, and as the links pass'upwardand-over the rear chain-wheel and also downward over the front wheelthey drop to a longitudinal engagement with the links, as is best shownwhile being carried horizontally upward, they do not in the least retardthe movement of As the chain revolves the frictionpulleys 27, carried bythe chain, engage with the under face of the adjustable weight 41 andelevate the same, and as the weightisconnected to the rod 29 the saidrod' is raised, as l is also the lever 30,and the upward movement `fofthe lever 30 causes the push-bar 39 to be g carried upward also,whereupon the toe of the with the rear end of a lever 30 by a suitablelatch 36 passes the pin 36', which isY above the notchllO, and as the.pulley 27 passes the weight 4l the bar 29 drops, carrying with it thelever 30 and the. bar 39, when. the latch 36, engaging the pin 36, whichit has just passed, partially revolves the wheel 35, causing the saidwheel to impart a lateral Inove- -1 ment to the seed drop-slide throughthey lnel dium of the pinion 37 and pitman 38, andthe lateral movementof the drop-slide permits the seed to drop from the seed-boxes to theground.

spouts 11 ofthe seed-boxes and in horizontal I-Iaving thus described ourinvention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters 1 Patent- 1.In a planter of the character described, the combination, with a seeddrop-bar,.of an actuating mechanism connected therewith, consistingof anendless chain, a series of fingers pivoted therein at their upper ends,`and stop-spurs projected from the lower faces of the links of the chain,adapted for engagement with one side surface of the said lingers,.substantially as shown and described.

2. In a planter, the combination, with the seed drop-bar, of anactuating mechanism consisting of an endless chain, fingers pivoted attheir upper ends in the alternate links of the chain, provided with acavity in one'face, and spurs forwardly projected from the under face ofthe links betweenthe fingers, the said spurs bein-g adapted to enter thecavitiesin the fingers, as'and for the purpose specified'.

3. In a planter, the combination, with a seed drop-bar, of an actuatingmechanism consisting of an endless chain and fingers pivoted at theirupper ends in alternate. links of the chain, the said fingerscompris-ing a,

TOO

shovel-like lower end, a shank, and a forwardly-inclined head, whichhead is pivoted in the links, said fingers being also provided withcavities in one side face, and spurs projected forwardly from the underedges of the links located between the fingers, the said spurs 'beingadapted to enter the cavities of the fingers and to maintain them Whilein action in a perpendicular position, as and for the purpose specified.

ALBERT J. HELVERN. VILLIAM B. SCHWALM.

Witnesses:

HENRY SCHWALM, HARRY SHUMAN.

